American Bulldogs Registry and Archives
3460 Highway 6
Hagersville ON N0A 1H0
905-768-4446
American Bulldog Breed Standard.
The American Bulldog is an athletic, temperamentally sound medium to large
sized dog that possesses great strength, agility and confidence. The
expression should reflect intelligence and alertness. The sturdy and
powerful yet compact frame is characteristically stockier and heavier boned
in the males and more refined in the females. Some aloofness with strangers
and assertiveness towards other dogs is accepted. However, an American
Bulldog should not be excessively timid, shy or aggressive towards man and
preferably not overly aggressive with other dogs. Due to its distinctive
physical and mental characteristics along with its natural desire to be the
total companion and working dog, an American Bulldog should never be
confused with uniquely different breeds such as the American Staffordshire
Terrier or the American Pit Bull Terrier. Size-General:
Males should range from 24 to 27 inches at the withers and
weigh between 90 and 110 pounds. Females should range from 22 to 25 inches
at the withers and weigh between 70 and 90 pounds. Weight should be
proportional to height and body type. A dog should be well conditioned and
not overweight or underweight.

Standard: A leaner and more athletic dog in appearance. Classic: A larger and more powerful dog in appearance.
Color:
Solid or varying degrees of white, all shades of brindle, brown, red,
or tan are acceptable. Solid black, black and tan, and/or any degree of
merle is unacceptable. A full black mask is not acceptable. **Merle is a
dilution of overall body color (black or red) with splotches of darker color
giving the effect of "merling" or "marbling" not to be confused with Brindle
that gives the effect of "striping".
Coat:
Short, less than one inch in length varying from soft to stiff. Long,
feathering, or fuzzy coats are unacceptable.
Head:The head should be relatively large and broad in proportion to the
size and overall structure of the dog. It should be flat on top giving a
squared appearance. There is a defined furrow between the eyes with a
distinct, deep stop. The head is well-muscled throughout with prominent
cheeks.
An excessively narrow head is unacceptable in both types.

Standard: Generally box shaped to wedge in appearance with a slightly
shallower stop and less wrinkles.Classic: Generally box shaped to round in appearance with a more definitive
stop and heavier wrinkles.Eyes:The eyes should be round or almond shape, medium sized, and wide set.
Black or dark brown is the preferred color. Other colors are accepted. Black
eye rim pigment preferred.
Crossed and/or nonsymmetrical eyes are
unacceptable. Muzzle:
The muzzle should be relatively broad and square. The large jaws are
well-muscled, displaying great strength. Lips are full but not pendulous.
Black pigment lining lips preferred. An excessively narrow muzzle is
unacceptable in both types.

Standard: muzzle should be 30% to 40% of the overall length of head. Classic: muzzle should be 25% to 35% of the overall length of head. Teeth:
The teeth should number 42 to 44 and large in size is preferred.
Working dogs should not be penalized for broken teeth. Should medical
removal of teeth be needed, documentation and verification by a veterinarian
is requested. Bite:Standard: Reverse scissors is preferred. Moderate under bite, scissors or
even bite is acceptable.Classic: Undershot 1/4 to ½ inch preferred. Even bite is not preferred.
Scissors bite is unacceptable.
Both types: Teeth should not be visible when the mouth is closed.
Nose:
Black is the preferred color. A red, brown, or grizzle nose is
acceptable.
A pink or dudley nose is unacceptable. Ears:
The ears should be medium in size and may be either forward flap or
rose, with no preference.
Cropped ears is unacceptable. Neck:
The neck should be very muscular and medium in length. The neck should
taper from shoulder to head and be slightly arched. Shoulders:The shoulders should be well-muscled with good definition and
wide sloping blades giving the appearance of great strength. Chest:The chest should be deep and moderately wide giving the appearance of
power and athletic ability. The front, overall, should be straight and well
balanced. The chest should not be narrow or excessively wide nor should the
elbows be angled out or pulled in. Body:The body should be compact and moderately short while powerful and
athletic in appearance. Well balanced. There should be a good spring of ribs
with the loin moderately tucked. The body should not be excessively long.
Back:The back should be broad and moderately short in length showing great
strength. Slight roach over loins. The back should not be narrow or swayed.

Standard: Straighter more level topline is preferred. Classic: Appearance of being slightly higher in the rear is preferred. Legs:The legs should be strong and straight with moderate to heavy bone.
Well-muscled front and back. The rear legs should be moderately angulated
and parallel. There should not be an excess of or lack of angulation in the
rear legs. Excessively bow-legged or cow hocked is unacceptable. Hindquarters:The hindquarters should be thick with well-defined muscles.
Not as wide as shoulders, but well-balanced. The hips should not be narrow
or lacking in muscle definition. Tail:The tail is set low, thick at base and tapering to a point. The tail
should reach the hocks in a relaxed position. Docked tails are not accepted.
The tail should not end in a complete circle. Feet:The feet should be of moderate size with toes well arched and close
together. The feet should not be splayed. Gait:The American Bulldog should move with speed, agility, and power with a
definite spring to the step. All legs move parallel to direction of travel,
with front legs clearly reaching and the rear legs propelling the dog
forward. The legs should not travel excessively wide. Front legs and/or rear
legs crossing is unacceptable.

Standard: A tighter, more athletic gait. Classic: A rolling gait is acceptable. *Note: Males without two testicles, dogs that are deaf, and dogs that have
been spayed or neutered are not allowed to compete in the conformation ring.
Females in estrus are not to be shown in the conformation classes and are
not allowed in the proximity thereof.